Overview

What is Scouting all about? Simply put Scouting is a movement designed to help young people grow and reach their best potential using tried and true methods. Scouting has often been called "A Game with a Purpose" because it uses activities and outdoor programs that are fun and challenging to create growth opportunities and memories that can last a lifetime. But we're getting ahead of ourselves. Perhaps the best place to start with the goals or aims of Scouting listed below.

AIMS OF SCOUTING

To build moral strength and character

To prepare boys for the responsibilities of Citizenship

To encourage Fitness

Purposes of Cub Scouting

As a parent you want your son to grow up to be a person of worth, a self-reliant, dependable and caring individual. Scouting has these same goals in mind for him.

Since 1930, we have been weaving lifetime values into fun and educational activities designed to assist parents in strengthening character, developing good citizenship, and enhancing physical fitness in youth.

Boys, families, and leaders work together to achieve the purposes of Cub Scouting.

The 10 purposes of Cub Scouting are:

Character Development

Spiritual Growth

Good Citizenship

Sportsmanship and Fitness

Family Understanding

Respectful Relationships

Personal Achievement

Friendly Service

Fun and Adventure

Preparation for Boy Scouts

How Cub Scouting Works

Scouting is Family oriented. Activities are intended for the whole family. You may work with your son on his advancement award requirements. Many skills he will learn are family oriented.

The Den
A Cub Scout Pack is divided into small groups of about eight boys called dens, who meet at least once a month under the direction of adult Den Leaders. The Den Leaders are trained parent volunteers.

The den allows boys to get to know each other better and engage in activities that would be difficult in a larger group. The den also provides leadership opportunities for the boys.

Den meeting activities are planned around the monthly theme and include games, handicrafts, hikes and other outdoor fun, practicing skits and stunts in preparation for the next Pack meeting and taking part in simple ceremonies and songs. Sometimes work on advancement requirements is included, but most of that work is accomplished by the boys with their parents. The Den Leaders may ask for special help occasionally from parents (helping with a meeting, sharing a special skill, or just providing a snack for the boys).

Dens are organized by rank. Ranks are organized by grade and age:

Tiger Cub Dens

Bear Dens

Wolf Dens

Webelos Dens

The Pack
The Pack is a group made up of several dens. The Pack includes not only the boys in those dens, but also their families, and their leaders. The Packs meets once a month with Cub Scouts, leaders, parents and other family members attending. The Pack meeting is the climax of the month's den meetings and activities. It gives the dens something to look forward to and work toward. This is a chance to recognize the boys, their parents, and their leaders.

In addition to its regular meetings, the Pack sponsors certain special projects. These include community projects (e.g., Scouting for Food Drive for the needy), outdoor activities (e.g., field trips, family campouts, etc.), fund raising activities, and fun competitions (e.g., Pinewood car Derby).

The Cub Scout Advancement Plan

Recognition is important to young boys. The Cub Scouting advancement plan provides fun for the boys, gives them a sense of personal achievement as they earn badges, and strengthens family understanding as adult family members work with boys on advancement projects.

Bobcat. No matter what age or grade a boy joins Cub Scouting, he must earn his Bobcat badge before he can advance to the rank of Tiger Cub, Wolf, Bear, or Webelos. A boy must complete the Bobcat requirements, which include demonstrating his understanding of Scouting's core values.

Tiger Cub. The Tiger Cub program is for first-grade (or age 7) boys and their adult partners. There are five Tiger Cub achievement areas. The Tiger Cub, working with his adult partner, completes 15 requirements within these areas to earn the Tiger Cub badge. These requirements consist of an exciting series of indoor and outdoor activities just right for a boy in the first grade.

Wolf. The Wolf program is for boys who have completed first grade. To earn the Wolf badge, a boy must pass 12 achievements involving simple physical and mental skills. When the boy has earned his Wolf badge, he may work on electives for credit toward Arrow Points to be worn under the Bear badge.

Bear. The Bear rank is for boys who have completed second grade (or are age 9). There are 24 Bear achievements in four categories. The Cub Scout must complete 12 of these to earn the Bear badge. These requirements are somewhat more difficult and challenging than those for Wolf rank. When the boy has earned his Bear badge, he may work on electives for credit toward Arrow Points to be worn under the Bear badge.

Webelos. Webelos, which stands for “WE’ll BE LOyal Scouts”, is a program for boys who have completed the third grade. A boy may begin working on the Webelos badge as soon as he joins a Webelos den. This is the first step in his transition from the Webelos den to the Boy Scout troop. As he completes the requirements found in the Webelos Handbook, he will work on activity badges, attend meetings led by adults, and become familiar with the Boy Scout requirements—all leading to the Arrow of Light Award.

The Basics

Apart from the fun and excitement of Cub Scout activities, there are a number of ideals expressed in the day-to-day life of the young boy and his leaders.

Cub Scout Promise
I promise to do my best
To do my duty to God and my country,
To help other people, and
To obey the Law of the Pack.

Law of the Pack
The Cub Scout follows Akela.
The Cub Scout helps the pack go.
The pack helps the Cub Scout grow.
The Cub Scout gives goodwill.

Cub Scout Motto
Do Your Best

The Cub Scout sign identifies the youth as a Cub Scout and is used when giving the Cub Scout Promise or the Law of the Pack. The Cub Scout salute is used when saluting the flag of the United States. The handshake is used as a token of